SCPW Challenge Launches to Save Resources and Personal CostsPark City and Summit County Residents Encouraged to Join the Challenge

SUMMIT COUNTY, UTAH - The Summit Community Power Works Challenge launched today: a call-to-action for Park City and Summit County residents to lower their impact on the environment by conserving energy, water, and their own money in the process. The interactive online platform, found at www.scpwchallenge.org, challenges residents to reduce their household’s carbon footprints, and creates a way for the community to work together to reduce overall carbon emissions.

Park City Mayor Andy Beerman states, “Park City is an extraordinary place to live, and it is exciting to be leading the nation with our climate and energy goals. We all have a role to play in leading our community to net-zero carbon. The SCPW Challenge is a fun way for us to join together as a community to reduce our impact on the environment.”

“Summit County Council is steadfast in our commitment to reduce carbon emissions. We’re excited to leverage the SCPW Challenge to help us reduce our personal carbon footprints, and encourage our community to get involved,” said Kim Carson, Summit County Council Chair.

The SCPW Challenge website is a ‘one-stop-shop’ that guides residents through specific actions pertaining to home energy, energy efficiency, transportation, water conservation, and community engagement. The platform offers a range of actions ranging from "easy" to "challenging" with local resources for completing each action, including any available incentives and rebates. Participants can choose which carbon-reduction actions they wish to take, and then track and share their progress. Participants earn points that correlate to carbon savings, and top scorers are highlighted on the website, and prizes will be awarded with each new challenge.

“The actions we take every day have a significant impact on our environment,” states Kevin Emerson, the project lead for SCPW and Energy Efficiency Program Director for Utah Clean Energy. “The SCPW Challenge is an opportunity to help reduce pollution through personal actions, and as a community, encourage each other to meet and even exceed our personal goals.”

One of the most unique components of the SCPW Challenge website is its ability to organize friendly competitions and recognize local environmental heroes. Groups of people can form teams, based on their neighborhood, school, or even social groups.

The SCPW Challenge is in line with Park City and Summit County’s carbon reduction goals. In 2016, Park City committed to North America’s most ambitious climate goals: to have a net-zero carbon footprint and run on 100% renewable electricity across the whole community by 2032. In 2017, Summit County committed to be powered by 100% renewable electricity by 2032 and to reduce its emissions by 80% by 2040. Park City, Summit County and SCPW will periodically issue carbon-reduction challenges with awards and prizes to recognize top participants.

###

About Summit Community Power WorksSCPW’s mission is to inspire efficient energy use through practical and innovative programs to improve economic vitality and the environment in Park City and Summit County. Managed by clean energy advocacy organization, Utah Clean Energy, SCPW is focusing its efforts on empowering residents with the tools and information to take personal actions to reduce their carbon footprint. www.scpw.org

About Park City Municipal CorporationPark City Municipal Corporation is a political subdivision of the State of Utah. A former silver mining town, Park City is now home to two world-class ski resorts and was the mountain host for the Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games. The town of 8,000 also hosts many special and cultural events, including the Sundance Film Festival and the Kimball Arts Festival. Park City has been named America's Best Mountain Town by Travel & Leisure Magazine. parkcity.org

About Summit CountyLocated in the northeast corner of Utah along the Wasatch Back, Summit County is home to more than 41,000 residents. Created in 1854, Summit County was named for the summits of the mountains, including 39 of the highest mountain peaks in Utah. Six municipalities make up Summit County, including Coalville, Francis, Henefer, Kamas, Oakley and Park City. The county seat is quiet, scenic Coalville, located on the I-80 corridor. For more information visit www.summitcounty.org.

Summit Community Power Works (SCPW) is launching a new chapter. Now that the Georgetown University Energy Prize competition has closed, SCPW is integrating with fellow energy advocacy organization, Utah Clean Energy. Under the helm of Utah Clean Energy, SCPW will continue its successful engagement with Park City and Summit County residents to save energy and reduce pollution.

“Snow is at the heart of our culture and our economy. We’re proud to have incubated Summit Community Power Works and believe that merging with Utah Clean Energy is a win for our community and for locals who are dedicated to conservation and renewable energy,” said Katie Wright, Executive Director of Park City Community Foundation.

“We couldn’t be more proud to team-up with SCPW on its already impressive energy-saving programs,” states Sarah Wright, Utah Clean Energy’s Executive Director. “Utah Clean Energy has a strong background in working with Park City and Summit County through multiple Community Solar programs, and various clean energy policies. This partnership is an exciting next step that will elevate the Wasatch Back’s sustainability efforts, and we’re excited to get started.”

SCPW was created to vie for the Georgetown University Energy Prize competition in 2014-2016, and through the process achieved phenomenal success in reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions through multiple community engagement programs. Looking to the future, Utah Clean Energy will be spearheading SCPW’s coordination with local government and community members to build on its successes, and ensure SCPW’s energy efficiency programs continue. However, this transition is not without some sadness, as the leadership of the organization is changing.

The Executive Director position held by Erin Bragg since Sept 1, 2017, has been discontinued. Bragg has led SCPW in this transition in creating a pathway to better position SCPW for continued growth. This transition will also mark the end of Park City Community Foundation’s (Community Foundation) fiscal sponsorship of SCPW.

SCPW Board Chair Mark Tourangeau states, “Erin has been an exceptional leader and we are so grateful for her hard work, passion and dedication.” Tourangeau continues, “SCPW would not have been possible without the exceptional staff of the Community Foundation who provided the administrative foundation from which SCPW was able to operate as a nonprofit in the community.”

The details of SCPW’s new leadership and programming under Utah Clean Energy will be finalized throughout the summer. In the meantime, SCPW will remain alive in the community, available to connect residents and businesses to energy efficiency information at scpw.org.

SWANER PRESERVE AND ECOCENTER IMPROVES UPON ORIGINAL LEED CERTIFIED BUILDING WITH LIGHTING RETROFIT

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah - March 20, 2018 - SuperGreen Solutions, with Summit Community Power Works (SCPW) has helped Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter through a first phase lighting upgrade of all incandescent lights.

The EcoCenter was completed in 2008, the first new building in Utah to receive a LEED Platinum rating. At the time, the recommendation for lighting was fluorescent and incandescent type bulbs. Over the past nearly 10 years technological advances have been made and now LEDs are the gold standard for energy efficiency. But when you are a nonprofit and need to retrofit an entire 10,000 square foot building, upfront costs can be a large barrier when funding is prioritized for programming and mission fulfilment.

Nell Larson, Executive Director of Swaner says, “Completing the switch to LEDs has been on our priority list for the EcoCenter for several years, especially now that new types of LED bulbs can meet the wide variety of applications we require. While we’ve made the upgrade in a few of our spaces, bit by bit, we haven’t been able to prioritize funding to complete the project. Thanks to awesome support from SuperGreen Solutions and SCPW, we’re well on our way. We aim to continue to be a model for energy efficiency and sustainability as technologies evolve; this partnership helps us stay on track to meet that goal.”

Enter SCPW, Summit County’s local energy nonprofit with a goal of improving economic vitality and the environment through efficient energy use. “As a nonprofit ourself, we know it can be hard to prioritize funds for capital improvements when the building and its systems, like lighting, are technically still working.” Says Erin Bragg, SCPW executive director, “The time for efficient energy use is now, waiting to make changes costs more money in the long run and continues current greenhouse gas emissions levels.”

SuperGreen Solutions, a Rocky Mountain Power certified lighting installer, LED expert and supply company, maintains a triple bottom line approach. Owner Franco Pedraza, wants more than to execute a lighting retrofit, he wants the client to understand how this choice is not only affecting their wallet but also reducing impact on the environment. Pedraza supplied the LED bulbs and installation for the first phase of lighting upgrades for Swaner at no cost, building upon the efforts of other local non profits like the National Ability Center, Kimball Art Center and Christian Center that also reduced their carbon footprint through LED lighting retrofits. “Advancing the mission of SCPW by reducing energy needs and being able to help a community asset like Swaner is a win win for everyone” says Pedraza.

Over the first year Swaner should see an 87% reduction to the lighitng portion of their electric bill and reduce their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions yearly by 6 tons, which is equivalent to almost 15,300 passenger vehicle miles, or 478 trips from Park City to downtown Salt Lake City.

###

About Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

The Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter is a non-profit 1,200 acre nature Preserve and a 10,000 square foot LEED Platinum building with interactive exhibits about the surrounding environment. We offer weekly nature tours, wildlife viewing opportunities, summer camps, environmental education for children and adults, evening lecture series, a gift shop with local and ecofriendly art. Visit the EcoCenter to learn more about our wetland ecosystem and the 10 miles of trails to explore! www.swanerecocenter.org

About Summit Community Power Works

Summit Community Power Works (SCPW) is a nonprofit hard at work in Summit County, UT inspiring efficient energy use through practical and innovative programs to improve economic vitality and the environment. SCPW is a fiscally sponsored project of the Park City Community Foundation. For more information, visit us on Facebook (facebook.com/SCPWorks) and Instagram (instagram.com/SCPWorks). You can also find more information on our website (www.scpw.org)

About SuperGreen Solutions

SuperGreen Solutions is a premiere advisor, supplier, and installer of commercial LED lighting solutions. LEDs use approximately 75% less energy than traditional lights and will save an estimated 60%-80% on the lighting aspect of your electric bill. LED lighting offers many benefits as an option to illuminate any space including, extended lifetime, low maintenance, low power consumption, increased brightness and low heat coefficient.

Article from the Park Record, September 12, 2017

Growing up in both Anchorage, Alaska, and Park City, Erin Bragg says she has always had an affinity for the outdoors.

Bragg moved to Park City with her family in 1999 and graduated from the Winter Sports School in 2001. She went on to receive a bachelor's degree in psychology from Bates College in 2006 and a master's in environmental humanities from the University of Utah in 2011, according to a press release.

As Bragg advanced in her career and education, while maintaining her love of the outdoors, she began to fully understand how everything is connected.

"That's how I entered the energy realm," Bragg said.

Bragg spent four years as the conservation director of Summit Land Conservancy before she became the sustainability specialist at Summit County. She worked closely with Lisa Yoder, who is the county's sustainability manager, collaborating with Summit Community Power Works on the home-energy score pilot program.

This week, Summit Community Power Works named Bragg as the nonprofit's new executive director. Her first day was Monday, September 11.

"I'm really excited," Bragg said. "I'm excited to work with the board and see what our next steps will be to get it back in the public eye."

Summit Community Power Works was created to spearhead Park City Municipal and Summit County's entry in Georgetown University's $5 million energy-saving competition. Summit Community Power Works is still waiting to learn which communities made it in the top 10.

'The organization has been quiet for a while and we are currently waiting to have that next big announcement, which is what we will be working on as I step into this new role," Bragg said.

Matt Abbott, who is the board chair of Summit Community Power Works, said board members have begun exploring how the organization's programs can be applied to the community as an ongoing effort instead of only in pursuit of the energy prize.

"We are looking to have more stuff tailored to the community and we are excited to shift our strategy," Abbott said. "We have been focusing on expanding our board to provide a much better base for Erin to work off of."

Abbott highlighted Bragg's experience in the community and "great network and strong work ethic." He added, "She has been wanting to run an organization and we were very much in need for someone to run the organization." Former project leader for the energy prize Mary Christa Smith left the organization earlier this year.

"She (Erin) has a great education and specific background in what we have been working on," Abbott said. "We are really excited to have someone step into the role for the organization."

Bragg said while working with other nonprofits, such as Summit Land Conservancy, she has been able to connect with residents throughout the county, particularly eastern Summit County landowners and understand the dynamic between the east and west ends of the county.

"It starts with building those relationships and knowing how to work with the east and west, not just demographically, but also their different socio-economic states," Bragg said. "Like me, I'm just a normal resident who wants to do all of these actions, but I also understand there is a financial constraint to it."

In her day-to-day life, Bragg said she rides the Kamas Commuter as often as possible and supports buying local food. Bragg and her husband, who live in Oakley, participated in the home-energy score program and did a bulk solar purchase as part of Mountain Town Community Solar program.

"I definitely understand the priority of finances in the household and sometimes it's about changing that mindset," Bragg said. "We (Summit Community Power Works) feel like residents and businesses can really benefit from the knowledge of working with us and Rocky Mountain Power to reduce our energy. As a nonprofit we are poised to help the efforts that Park City, Summit County and other municipalities are putting forward."